1st half Study Guide

Which of the following is an effective strategy for personal saving?

• Wait until the end of the month and save whatever is left in your checking account

• Save a certain percentage of each paycheck and deposit it directly into a savings account

• Cover all of your wants and needs and save whatever is left over

• Take out a payday loan so you can save before you receive your paycheck

All of the following statements about bank accounts are true EXCEPT...

• If the bank is FDIC-insured, your money, up to the FDIC limit, is safe even if the bank fails

• Many banks pay interest on the money you deposit into your savings account

• Historically, savings accounts earn higher returns than investments in the stock market

• Money in a checking account is usually easy to access via ATM, debit card or check

All of the following are true about prepaid cards EXCEPT...

• Prepaid cards typically include a lot of fees

• Prepaid cards are a useful option for someone who is unbanked to make online purchases

• Prepaid cards are a great way to build credit

• Prepaid cards are usually accepted anywhere that debit and credit cards are accepted

You are developing a savings plan and using short-, medium-, and long-term goals to motivate you. Which represents possible goals from short-term to long-term? Save for...

• Retirement, a house down payment, college tuition

• A new cell phone, college tuition, a house down payment

• A new cell phone, dinner with friends this weekend, a new bike

• Retirement, college tuition, a vacation

You overhear your Aunt Tina tell your mom that she, her husband, and their kids are "living paycheck to paycheck." What does Aunt Tina mean by that?

• A. Aunt Tina gets a paycheck one month, and her husband gets a paycheck the next month; they alternate pay periods

• B. Aunt Tina and her family don't have any money saved, and their paychecks are just barely covering monthly expenses

• C. Aunt Tina and her family have high paying jobs and don’t worry much about money

• D. Aunt Tina only receives paper paychecks instead of direct deposit

Which of the following transactions will REDUCE your checking account balance immediately?

• Writing your monthly rent check which you will mail tomorrow

• Using your debit card to pay for groceries at the supermarket

• Using your credit card to pay for your school books

• Depositing a check at a local bank branch

FDIC Insurance is...

• Optional coverage consumers can purchase so that their bank deposits remain safe

• Insurance bank branches can buy to protect their business against fraud and scams

• Required if you want to do online or mobile banking

• Protection for bank customers’ deposits up to $250,000, guaranteeing their money is still available if the bank goes out of business

How does investing in the stock market differ from putting money in a savings account at a bank?

• Investing is always a less risky option than saving

• Investing is best for short-term situations like emergency funds; saving is best for the long-term

• Investing typically earns between 1-2% while saving generally earns between 5-7%

• Investing allows you to accumulate wealth for retirement while saving is best for short-term purchases or emergencies

What kinds of behaviors can PREVENT people from making smart investing decisions?

• Staying calm when the market is experiencing a downturn

• Buying stocks when prices are low and selling them when they’re high

• Exiting the market because that’s what everyone else is doing

• Investing in a diversified portfolio instead of trying to beat the market

Why is diversification a recommended investment strategy?

• Investing in a diversified portfolio guarantees that you won’t lose money with your investments

• If you tell your fund manager to use diversification, they’ll charge you lower fees

• Diversifying your portfolio helps reduce risk

• If you diversify your portfolio, you will definitely earn a high return